The Gathering | Design for Peace & Justice

This event is part of The 3rd Annual

The Gathering | A Celebration of Laguna's Hippie History

Event 1 of 8

In recognition of United Nations Day for Peace, September 21, 2024

"Devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, both

within and amongst all nations and peoples."

Political Posters

Commanding the visual realm of the public sphere, posters have long been the medium of choice to communicate matters of urgency and social change. While the digital realm has taken posters to a new dimension, their power to demand attention from the viewer gives posters a platform of communication unlike any other.

Whether by pure agitation or by indirect confrontation, posters act as a one-to-one voice – a personal message from the designer to the audience. Furthermore, as a platform for interaction with society at large, posters bring forth the dedication of the designer and the social responsibility that has come to be placed on their shoulders;

as communicators of the voice of dissent and social change.

Expressions of Peace

Amidst turbulent times - such as ours - Posters For Peace exhibitions stand as profound symbols, transcending cultural boundaries and echoing the universal language of graphic design. They encapsulate the value of diverse perspectives and the rich cultural heritage of humanity. Hence, these exhibitions become crucial sanctuaries, fostering harmony, empathy, and understanding across diverse communities.

Through artistic expressions, they not only ignite conversations but also celebrate the mosaic of human experiences, instilling compassion and reinforcing the innate human longing for peace. These exhibitions remind us that cooperation and mutual respect can surmount cultural, ideological, and national differences, emphasizing that amidst conflict, peace remains within reach through collective effort and respect for one another;

towards an expression of solidarity through design and a united voice for peace

Pouya Jahanshahi

Founder : Design For Peace & Justice

Pouya Jahanshahi is an Iranian-born graphic designer and scholar, and currently an

Associate Professor of Graphic Design and Graduate Program Director at Oklahoma

State University. Migrating from Tehran to London and then Los Angeles, studying his

MA at Cal State Fullerton, with a focus on the “Anatomy of a visual message” and the

realm of semiotics. He received his MFA in Graphic design and Integrated Media, from

the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) where his research focused on "Hybrid

Visual Cultures."

While working with a broad range of cultural organizations and clientele, he is the co-

founder of Pasaj Collaborative and Local-Not-Local art and design collabortives. As a

Design Activist, he strives to use the power of design for social change. 20x20 Posters

for Peace and Design For Peace & Justice collections are being exhibited across the globe disseminating the message of peace to the next generation.

Curator: Julie Perlin Lee, Laguna Art Museum Assisted by Truman, Alistair, Ocean, Piper and Stella, all Laguna Beach High School students.

”The students deliberated to select these images, worked through various concepts in-

cluding, thinking about audience, impact of image, of message and ultimately

aesthetics. I’m very proud to have witnessed this work-shop of 5 bright minds!”

– Julie Perlin Lee

LBCAC has installed a Patriot Air Purification System to ensure

a virus free environment. www.patriotairsystems.com

Grant funding was made possible by the lodging establishments

and the City of Laguna Beach.